Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-27
IMPORTANT, If TRUE
A SENSATION ABOUT TIE VIRGINIA.
DEBT FROM WASHINGTON.
will the Coupon Question Become an
International One f-fun
In Finances
Especial telegram to Tho DIspa,cb.I

ht'fe' - tfhoAt Wa tnR Afttttoh hRsNNs'
OF Virgins bonds has deeper signiti.
canoe than appears upon che surface OF
things IL is believed that the Sails
bury Government has delegated Sir
Edward TO confer with the Virginia
Legislature rs the profeSsed representa-
tive ot the bondholders, but as the ac-
iual though undisclosed representative
Of the British Government, with the
object OF asccrtaining clearly the pur-
pose OF the State Of Virginia relative
10 the portion of her debt held
10y British capitalists. IL is known that
within the lastweek letter has been re-
ccived here from London from party
deeply interested in the result of Sir
Edwards mission, saying that the Sal
isbury Cabinet had deemed it expe-
dent, in view of the portentous situa-
tion growing out of the practical espou-
sal of the cause of Ireland by Glad
stone, TO resort 10 the tactics by which
Dsraeli was successful in diverting the
attention OF the contending parties at
home-namely, the adoption of Wig
Orous policy for the protection of Bri-
ish interests abroad.
THE FIRST EVIDENCE.
The iirst evidence of this new policy,
The letter says. was the demand (exe-
cuted three weeks or more ago. for the
instant payment OF the indebtedness of
The Haytien Government to the English
capitalists, aggregating a million dol
lars. Almost concurTently with this
came the vigorous order from the
British Foreign Office looking TO
the fOrcible collection from the
republic of Venezuela Of the G10,-
eco, 900 Of indebtedness due by
Venezuela to British capitalists
The latest development known in
Washington Of the latter phase of the
new Salisbury policy is an apparently
vcll-authenticsted report that the
British Minister at Caracas, Frederick
Eobert st. John. had progressed SO far
IN carrying ont the belligerent policy
Of his Government towards the Ven
r1uelan republic that be had an
nounced to President Guzman Blan-
60 his summary recall 10 Eng
land The final and b9 far the
most important step of this new policy
for the protection of suffering British
interests is believed to be the sending
of Sir Edward Thornton to confer with
the Legislature at Richmond. In con-
uection with this latest phase is signi-
hcantly considered the most extraordi-
usIy proposition of the Salisbury Cabi-
net 70 this country in regard to the
fisheries troubles. There are few, if any,
diplomatic people here who believe that
Great Britain would have deliberately
offered, without an Interior motive, to
surrender $500, 900, the amount of
The Halifax fisheries award, when the
belief il universal among Englishmen
that the Geneva award exceeded by be-
tween seven and eight million dollars
the actual damage done by the English.
Confederate privateers Alabama, Flori-
ia. and Shenandoah. 1t is surmised,
and not without considerable plausi
hllty, that this Interior motive is close
" associated with the vast British in
tercst involved in the settlement of the
Virginia debt matter.
WEST VIRGINIA.
The British bondholders have for
some years been making an effort at
Richmond to get the Legislature to
adjust their claim satisfactorily, but
without result. Operating in coniunc-
ton with them has been strong in
fuence represented by well-known
Wsil-street operator, }. G. Maben,
seeking to induce West Virginia
10 assume her share of the debt.
The brains of this Maben side
show TO the great British negotiation is
y somewhat erratic but very talented
West Vircinian, james NJ. Mason. son
of the James NJ. Mason, of Virginia,
noted for his association with the Trent
affair III the rebellion, and for his dis
tingu;shed services previously as n
,tnatOr from Virginia. Mr.. Mabcn
was recently before the Legislature
of West Virginia, at Charleston, adj
,ocating a proposition hedging upon
~ honest assumption by West Virginia
of,thc one third which is generally be-
hcvcd TO be her Legitimate snare of the
debt of Virginia, but his efforts are
;hu, far practically without result.
Indeed, so barren of satisfactory re-
suits have beenall efforts with either the
Nircinia or the West Virginia Legisla-
iues towards securing a fair recOgm-
ton of the great Virginia debt that but
little patience remains with the long
suffering English creditors.
The conclusion is believed to be that
inssmuch ~ pacific means have utterly
failed to produce satisfactory results,
tie best proposition procured from the
virginia Legislature scaling the debt
from I'D TO s. per cent, and the propo-
,,tiou assumed by the West Virginia
legislature. amounting to absolute re-
lUd:a,ion-forcible representations are
contemplated by the British Govern
mont, contingent upon the success OF
Sir Edward Thornton withthe Virginia
LEGISLATORS at Richmond.
u is absurd to suppose that the extra
ordinary magnanimity of the Salisbury
Cabinet in the fisheries dispute is with
on, an ultimate object. II IS absurd To
sutlose that Great Britain, with her
vast ready naval resources, would make
= trucking proposition to nation that
stands so far down on the list OF the
powers of the earth as does the United
States.
WHERE THE LAUGH COIEs IN.
The unquestioned ability and sus-
pected purpose of Great Britain to force
n scttlement OF that portion of the Nlr-
cinia debt due the British subjects
hing TO mind the Blaine proposition
made no doubt to capture the political
influence Of Virginia--that the Federal
Government assume the States debt IN
lieu of the 16,OO0,G90 acres of which
the old State was dismembered by
reason of the admission OF West
Virginia into the Union 10y Congress
in iSe3. IL is believed by some pretty
well.iniormed people that the United
States Government may be called upon
before long 10 consider the Blaine PRO,
position in another form at the urgent
solicitation of the British Government,
and that the mission of the late British
Minister to Washington, Mr. Thornton,
il preliminary to this important ana
uorttntous development.